General News
20 June, 2025
Solstice Party this weekend
LOCALS and visitors are encouraged to rug up, embrace the dark and celebrate the longest night of the year at this weekend’s Solstice Search Party.
Now in its fourth year, the free party will return to Lake Pertobe tomorrow (Saturday) in what promises to be a celebration of winter in Warrnambool and a creative connection to land and raw, wild nature.
Saturday’s event will be held in the Lake Pertobe precinct where an array of live music and local food vans will add to the family-friendly atmosphere.
Throughout time, Winter Solstice rituals have revolved around fire.
This year will see the return of WildHoney Performing Arts.
They will invite attendees to gather around the fire effigy (a rustic metal brazier) set with aromatic bushwood and spices.
The event will also feature a selection of new and returning neon sculptures from artist Carla O’Brien.
The Nature Bus will help visitors create their very own clay owl and One Day Studios will be on-site creating a “glow wall” and projecting lights across the beautiful natural landscape of the park.
After forecast storms meant Lotte Gallagher was unable to perform at the 2024 event, the Triple J Unearthed High finalist is on the bill for 2025.
She will be supported by Pyper & Dylan, Mick Ferguson and DJ Andrew McClelland.
There will also be a wide array of local food vans, coordinated by the team from The Fresh Market Warrnambool.
Warrnambool mayor Cr Ben Blain said the event would be a celebration of light, colour, music and warm food.
“What started out as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic has grown and evolved into the most anticipated event on our winter events calendar,” he said.
“It’s an event that people are willing to travel for, but just as importantly, it’s an opportunity for our community to come together for a big celebration.
“Our Solstice event shows that winter in Warrnambool can be every bit as vibrant as the warmer months.
“Moving the event to Lake Pertobe last year was a big success. The site was more accessible, there was more space for food vans, there was more parking nearby and everything ran smoothly.”
Cr Blain said the Solstice Search Party was part of a packed winter events calendar in Warrnambool.
Solstice Search Party is an all ages, drug and alcohol-free event, presented by Warrnambool City Council.
The event will run from 3pm-8.30pm.
The scheduled program (subject to change/weather conditions) will include:
3pm: Welcome to Country, neon lights turned on, Nature Bus craft activities.
3.20pm: The Elementals.
3.25pm: Pyper and Dylan take to the stage.
4.20pm: The Elementals emerge for their final voyage.
4.45pm: music by Mick Ferguson.
5.30pm: The Phoenix and the Flames will light the fire effigy.
6.05pm: headline act Lotte Gallagher.
7.10pm: Winter Queen will wander.
7.30pm: DJ Andrew McClelland.
8.30pm: close.
